Out of the Blue- Unraveling the Mystery of How Angola was Able to Bypass Prison Gangs

• In Event: Gang and Group Violence Interventions: From Theory to Practice

Abstract

The largest prison in the United States, Angola, occupies a rare status, which is having an absence of prison gangs. Given that Louisiana is surrounded by states with heavy prison gang populations, such as Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas, that Angola houses around 6,000 prisoners, and that it was once known as ‘America’s bloodiest prison,’ it would seem implausible that the institution would escape the prison gang phenomenon. This study uses 89 in-depth life history interviews with individuals who were previously serving life without parole, virtual life, or other lengthy sentences, to understand almost 60 years of Angola’s history and evolution, and the geographical, sociocultural, administrative, and organizational reasons that prevented prison gangs from taking root.

Author

• Christian L. Bolden, Loyola University New Orleans